Rail-joint lock



Nov. 19, 1929. s. HALAPIN 1,735,967

I RAIL JOINT LOCK Filed April 22, 1929 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1929uni'rse starts STEVE nALAPIn, OFDETROIT, M1C1-IIGAN RAIL-JOINT LoanApplication filedllpril 22,

The present invention pertains to a novel rail joint locking mechanismfor oining the abutting ends of railway rails. The principal object ofthe invention is to devise a mechanism for joining the abuttingends ofrailway rails whereby the rails are firmly secured together in a mannerassuring rigidity and requiring a comparatively small amount of time ascompared with the ordinary manner in which the rails are joined. By thepresent construction it is made possible to drill the rails in the usualmanner and use the fish-plates which are commonly used and securedtogether by bolts passed t'hnough drilled holes in the abutting ends ofthe rails. Ordinarilyv the several bolts in constructions of this natureare each provided with a nut and each nut must be screwed 7 tightindependently from the other. With 20 the present invention thisindividual tightening operation for each bolt is avoided and all thebolts are tightened by a single operation and positively locked in thetightened position.

With this and other objects in view my invention is fully set forth andmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims,.

reference being had to'the accompanying drawings, in which of railwayrails joined in' accordance with the present invention; v

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional iew taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the abuttingendsof the rails, and

V Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional View on the line l4 of Figure1.

Like characters are employed to designate the corresponding partsthroughout.

The numeral 1 indicates a pair of railwayrails with their ends abuttingone againstthe other, each rail being provided with a series of drilledholes 2 for accommodating bolts 3 ie which are provided to secure thefish-plates 4 in their proper place, this construction being inaccordance with the conventional method of joining rails. The bolts 3 m1? sufiicient length that one end of each bolt extends beyond the faceof the'fish plate as'clearly ing enlarged as at 11. a j t v Theinstallation and operation of the parts 60 v Figure 1 is a sideelevation of abutting ends .gaged by the eccentric cam 20.

1229. fs aiai in), 3 8300.

illustrated in Fig; 2 and over these projecting ends is placed aiwedgeplate 5 having drilled holes 6 to accommodatethe bolts 3.

Theportions of the bolts 3 which project beyond the wedge plate 5 areprovided with 55 grooves 7 which form a shoulder 8, the grooves .7 beingreceived in a'slot 9 formed in an opposing wedge plate 10, theIslot 9beas described isas follows, the bolts 8 are passed directly throughdrilled holesin the fish plates, the rails and the wedge'plate 5 and theenlargement 11 at the bottomof the slot 9 permits the 'wedgecplate' 10.to be placed over the ends of the bolts.' The slots'9 engage in thegrooves 7 so that the shouldersS enclamp the fish plajtes e alongside.the rails 1 and secure the bolts 3 in aposit'ion holding thefishpla-tes. j I

A cross-member 12 is passed beneath the rails and one side is providedwith a: member 55 13 adapted to overlap the flare on the bottom of therails 1, the opposite end of thecross member supporting the wedgeoperating mechanism. Plates 14 are secured to the member 12 by bolts 15and "arereinforcedgg V by a; block lfi secured by bolts 17,'the platessupporting a shaft 1'8-havinga squared end 19 to accommodate a crank ora wrench. In termediatetheendsoi the shaft 18 is provided an eccentriccam 20 havingthe ratchet teeth 5 21 whichare engaged by the pawl 22supported on a shaft 28 mounted in the plates 14. A bracket 24engagesthe wedge plate 10 andhas a rounded portion 25 which is enk.

' Fig. 4 of the drawing illustrates the device in the locked positionwhich is obtained by rotating the shaft 18 by means of a wrenchappliedto the portion 19.- Rotation of the shaft 18 causes the eccentric2O to bear downwardly upon the bracket 24. and thereby forces the wedgeplate 10 downwardly to wedge plate 10 to be moved to a tightenedposition the pawl 22 is moved into engagement with theteeth 21 andthereby prevents rotation of the eccentric 20 which in turn prevents anyof the members-from loosening.

Although a specific embodiment of my invention has been illustrated anddescribed it P is tobe understood that various alterations may be madein the details of construction 7 ing of said bolts.-

Without departing from the Spiritof the invention as depicted in thefollowing claims. WhatI claim is: p

r 1. The combination withthe abutting ends ,of rails and fish platesadapted to be secured alongside thereof,,of a plurality of bolts passedthrough said rail ends and said fish plates, a wedge member adapted toen- "gage said bolts whereby movement of said wedge member tightens allof said bolts, and

. an eccentric member in engagement with said Wedge member wherebyrotation of said eccentric moves said wedge member to tighten saidbolts. v p

2. The combination with the abuttingends of rails and fishplatesa'dapted to be secured alongside thereof, of a plurality of boltspassed'through said rail ends and "said fish fp late s', a wedge memberadapted to engage said bolts wherebymovement of said wedge membertightens all of'said bolts, an eccentric member in engagement with saidwedge member whereby rotation, of said eccentric moves said wedge memberto tighten said bolts and means reve'nti'n rotation of said I b V '3.The combinat1on with the abutting ends of rails and fish plates adaptedto be secured, alongside thereof, of bolts passed through said rail endsand said fish plates, wedge plates passed over said bolts wherebymovement of one of said wedge plates tightfens all of-saidbolts, aneccentric'adapted to move said last named wedge plate, a "ratchet formedon said eccentric, and a pawl adapted to"engage said ratchet to preventbackward rotation of said eccentric.

' I I In testimony whereof 1' aifix my signature.

STEVE; HALAPIN';

eccentric in adirection permitting a loosen-

